As a kid growing up in Cobh I was very aware of the sunny sailing destination as my fathers cousin Joan Denvir did a lot of sailing in Antigua and was agent for one of the first yacht charter companies - Nicholsons. Joan was great for sending me postcards and letters and my stamp album helped to hone my interest in the geography of the Caribbean.

 

In the late 1970's Joan arranged for Christopher Nicholson to come and work with me. He was an amazing person and a brilliant instructor. He was also our first windsurfing instructor and indeed thought me how to get up on a board!  Chris and I hatched some great plans for working together and I had planned to go to the Caribbean to skipper yachts and teach sailing for the winter months. But unfortunately my father Eamonn was killed in a car crash in 1980 and that put paid to my plans. Sadly Chris (who was a gifted scholar and adventurer) was killed in an ice climbing accident in New Zealand. 

 

My youngest brother, John Paul, has worked on yachts and super yachts for over 20 years and one of his main bases was Falmouth Harbour in Antigua. When JP came home with stories and pictures my interest in the Caribbean increased. My first visit was to the British Virgin Islands with the late and great Mick Loughnane. We went there to buy some big boats for his charter operation "Sail Ireland" based in Kinsale in Ireland. 

 

I flew into Beef Island Airport on Tortola , the biggest island on the BVIs, where the terminal building was the size of two containers. Mick and some more Irish guys were waiting on the viewing balcony (the roof of the container) to greet me. We went to the bar (a guy with an icebox with cans of beer) and had a few beers before putting my gear on the dinghy (the airport is only 10 metres from the anchorage) I was delighted with the warm night and thought of the cold miserable November weather in Ireland!

 

On waking the next morning I discovered we were under way and looked out the porthole to see a bright blue sky with brilliant sunshine, a sandy beach on an island with green palm trees and crystal clear blue sea. I had arrived in the Caribbean!!

 

 We went on to have an amazing week discovering all the islands once frequented by buccaneers and pirates. Several swims a day with snorkelling and diving in nearly 30 degrees really added to the excellent sailing. The wind was a constant 15-20 kn and when a wave broke over us I didn't have to duck!  I was in heaven - and there was more........... Beer was half the price of that in Ireland and rum even cheaper again. I decided there and then that this place was designed for Eddie English! 

 

At the end of the week I flew with LIAT (Leave island any time or luggage in another terminal!!) in a light plane to Antigua where I got together with my brother JP. He was working on a 120 footer "Saryiah" docked in Falmouth Harbour. The super yachts were amazing and the lifestyle was something else. I immediately fell in love with the place especially English Harbour with Nelsons Dockyard which reminded me of the Naval Stores in Haulbowline. This is also the base for Nicholsons who my cousin had worked for. Antigua also has a Martello Tower - another link with home - I honestly feel very at home in English (or is it English's) Harbour. The big let down was having to return to the miserable bleak November weather in Ireland after a fantastic Caribbean holiday.

 

The Caribbean was definitely calling! At this stage I had been sailing Richard Matthews aboard his Oystercatchers for a number of years. I had done a Pacific run from Bora Bora in French Polenesia to Fiji via Tonga aboard Oystercatcher xx. This was fantastic but I was still yearning for the Caribbean and sure enough Richard came up trumps and invited me to crew in Antigua Sailing Week. Since then I have sailed several Antigua Weeks (where we have won our class a few times) and also raced a few times in the St Martin Heineken Regatta. Over the last few years the tourism product has improved with better restaurants and food as well as better airport facilities. Every time I go to one of these regattas I am transported into a different world - a total escape from the worries of life and the Irish winter! I absolutely love the bright sunshine, warm evenings, clear skies, constant breezes, warm water, sandy beaches, cold beer, friendly locals, excellent food, fantastic sailing, great parties, interesting walks, amazing views, bustling market places and more ........... why would I ever want to come home!

 

Back in 2005 I figured it would be a great idea to share this experience. We had been bringing groups to the Canaries for a number of years - why not the mecca of sunshine sailing - the Caribbean. We discussed it at SailCork and laid down provisional plans for a premium holiday with a top class boat and a very carefully planned itinerary with a skipper with an intimate knowledge of the area (me!)and then suggested the idea to some of our customers- the idea was received enthusiastically and we made our first SailCork cruise in the Caribbean in Antigua in January 2008. We were back again to Antigua last January and for 2010 we are going to the British Virgin Islands. This will allow a more varied programme with the possibility of visiting 3 to 4 anchorages a day with a different island for each overnight stop. We depart from Gatwick on Jan1 and return on Jan 9 ........ YIPEE!!!!.......... sun, clear seas, green islands with sandy beaches, snorkelling, super sailing in shorts, tan for Jan, excellent cocktails at a reasonable price, new anchorages, great fun..................by the way if  YOU are interested there are still some places available!! (Give Jo a call on 021 4811237 or (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address))

 

BLAST AND DAMN ------ it's still blowing 35 kn + with torrential rain!! Roll on the BVIs holiday!